PRESS
Eastlake Lacrosse takes a big step toward again contending for state titles
Eastlake club adds former professional lacrosse star Chris Panos as its head coach
(Sammamish, WA) – Eastlake Lacrosse announced today that it has added former professional lacrosse star Chris Panos as its new head coach. Chris, who has been the head coach at Nathan Hale High School over the past two years will take over an Eastlake program whose varsity team made its way back to the playoffs with a record of 11-6-1 this year, falling to Tacoma in the first round.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to be joining the Eastlake Lacrosse program,” commented new Eastlake Head Coach Chris Panos. “I was looking for an opportunity where my 30-plus years of lacrosse experience could help a program take that next step. Considering both the depth of talent already in the program and the support they get from the parents and the community, Eastlake is clearly ready.”
In its inaugural season, Eastlake’s varsity team took the Division II state title. However, after moving up to Division I the next year, the Eastlake program has found it difficult to crack into an exclusive group of the state’s top lacrosse programs which includes this year’s champion Mercer Island. To its credit, Eastlake understood that top lacrosse programs across the country aren’t built overnight. Perennial contenders require a foundation of talented players starting off in elementary school. Since that first season, Eastlake has focused its attention on building that foundation.
Today, the program has a very popular youth program with hundreds of lacrosse players, some only in second grade. “A number of head coaching opportunities were available to me,” Chris Panos noted. “One of the things that excited me most about Eastlake was the strength of their youth program. I look forward to helping kids improve at all levels of the program because it all feeds into the success of our high school teams.”
Chris brings over thirty years of lacrosse experience to Eastlake. Playing his college ball at Division I Hofstra University, Chris was drafted fourth overall in the first round by the Boston Blazers of the National Lacrosse League (the same league Seattle’s own Washington Stealth play in.) Along with over a decade of professional lacrosse where he was on four championship teams, Chris was honored to be selected three times as a member of Team USA, representing our country in the World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.
“I don’t know that we could have found anyone with better credentials or a higher lacrosse IQ to lead our program,” noted Darren Peterson, Board President at Eastlake Lacrosse. “But ultimately, it was Chris’ performance as head coach at Nathan Hale over the past two years that was so compelling to us. Inheriting a 2-win program with barely enough players to take the field and turning them into a playoff team in just two years speaks volumes about the value he brings. We are thrilled to welcome Chris to Eastlake.”
Chris was introduced as the new head coach last night at Eastlake’s year-end banquet.
About Eastlake Lacrosse Association
The Eastlake Lacrosse Association organizes, develops and promotes boys’ lacrosse in the Eastlake High School attendance area. The association emphasizes the development of self-esteem, good sportsmanship, respect for oneself and others. The players are taught to “Honor the Game” through the values of scholastic achievement, sportsmanship and team development.
Additional information about the Eastlake Lacrosse Association can be found at http://www.eastlakelacrosse.org
Panos gives back to sport he loves
(Lake Villa Review, August 6, 2009)
By DINO MACRO dmacro@pioneerlocal.com
LACROSSE -- For the serious lacrosse player, there is a viable option right in the neighborhood.
Lake Zurich resident Chris Panos -- who played 11 years in the National Lacrosse League -- just wrapped up a set of Advanced Lacrosse camps at Lake Forest College. The four-session event was hardly a walk in the park.
"I'm trying to train kids who really want to get good at lacrosse," said Panos, 35, who is contemplating retiring from pro lacrosse as he recovers from a foot injury. "I'm looking for quality, not quantity. The 12 kids are so much better for coming to the camp for four Sundays."
Panos, who spent two years as a varsity assistant at Lake Forest High School (2007-08), has helped mold the careers of some elite players. Check out this list of players heading off to college who trained with Panos: Lake Forest's Stew Kerr (a 2-time All-American headed to Middlebury College), Lake Forest's Zach Telander (Vermont), Lake Forest's Joe Hrusovsky (Michigan) and Deerfield's Lee Boshes (Michigan). In addition, he's working with Glenbrook South junior Jeff Hard, who emerged as one of the state's leading scorers last spring.
When Panos works with a player, he does more than simply hone skills. He's also involved in securing college scholarships.
"The recruiting process is a huge process," he noted. "I have a whole service I do."
He's certainly connected. Panos, who grew up on Long Island in New York, works in tandem with Toby Elmore of SportsWorx Long Island.
"We both know how tough the process of recruiting is for parents as well as student-athletes," said Panos on his Web site, Advancedlacrosse.com. "We are here to bridge the gap and expand the knowledge of available resources."
Obviously, Panos is passionate about the game. He first picked up a stick at age 6 and realized he wanted to be a professional player by the time he was 11. He eventually played at Hofstra University and then spent 11 years in the National Lacrosse League.
One of his shining moments will always be a bittersweet memory.
"In the game where I broke my foot (in '08), I scored my 200th goal," Panos related. "To score 200 goals in that league as an American is a pretty big accomplishment. The league is 70 percent Canadian."
Panos, who earned a National Lacrosse League championship in 2001 with the Philadelphia Wings and played for Team USA on three occasions, realizes outsiders are unaware of the game's importance in Canada.
"I've won three Mann Cups," Panos related. "(Canada's Mann Cup) is older than the Stanley Cup."
His most recent stop in pro lacrosse came to an end when the Chicago Shamrox folded following the 2008 season. Panos plans on returning to the league as either a player or owner.
"If I get a good offer to continue, I still have a desire to play," he said. "I'm looking to possibly buy a team in the National Lacrosse League."
In the meantime, Panos will continue to tutor players, individually and in group settings. He's also working on a charity event to benefit the American Cancer Society. The inaugural Turkey Cup Classic will be held sometime in November, in Libertyville.
"We're hoping to make it an annual event," said Panos of the 3-on-3 tournament.
As the 2009 camp fades out of view, keep an eye on the following players in the future: Henry Grob, Griffin Meyer, Bryan Rossman, Sean Kelleher, Ross Chaifetz, Drew Brewster, Luke Bernardi -- all from Lake Forest High School -- as well as Riley Markus (Libertyville High School), Drew Pesmen (Stevenson), Danny Conway (Loyola Academy) and Zach Winemaster (Deer Path Middle School in Lake Forest).
"All of those kids are anxious to keep training," Panos said.
Total team effort Pro lacrosse player adds final touch to turn teen's dream into reality
(Lake County News-Sun, March 3, 2009)
By BETH KRAMER ekramer@scn1.com
A professional lacrosse player equipped a newcomer to the sport with a new crosse (lacrosse stick) on Monday morning.
Chris Panos, who played 12 years in the National Lacrosse League, furnished Beth Griffin with her first crosse just in time, as Mundelein High kicked off its lacrosse season with practice on Monday after school.
Without the donation, Griffin would not have been properly outfitted for the season. Her family is on a tight budget because her father is undergoing hospice care.
"I did not expect Chris to donate a lacrosse stick," Griffin said. "This is probably the coolest thing that's ever happened to me."
When Griffin told school social worker Julie Wheeler about her desire to play, Wheeler arranged donors to supply Griffin with the rest of the necessary gear, including a helmet, pads and a chest plate.
"If somebody wants to be involved in a sport or activity, you have to do everything you can to make that possible," Wheeler said.
All the gear, plus the school's athletic fee, would have totaled hundreds of dollars.
"I'm sure other people need equipment, too. It's so sweet that other people are willing to help me out," Griffin said. "Money is really tight in our house. Money for such an expensive sport is an issue."
Her father was diagnosed with cancer about five years ago, which has since spread from his back to his colon and brain. He was given six months to live and has held on for the past six years, Griffin said.
"It's looking grim, but he's still here," Griffin said.
Panos, of Lake Forest, could relate to what Griffin is going through. His own father wrestled with cancer before passing away in 2004.
"I always found sports were a great way to keep my mind occupied. Having teammates around you really helps. It seems like you have a great nucleus of people around you," Panos told Griffin.
Panos, 34, has played in the National Lacrosse League for 12 years. Last year, he played for the Chicago Shamrox, who are not fielding a team this year.
Currently, Panos is the assistant varsity coach at Lake Forest High.
He also offers private training for players of all levels through his business, Advanced Lacrosse (www.advancedlacrosse.com).
He told Griffin that he thought she would do just fine as the only girl on the lacrosse team.
Griffin, 17, will play on Mundelein's junior-varsity team. The first game is scheduled for March 25 against Grayslake North.
"I always thought (lacrosse) looked like one of the coolest sports to play," Griffin said.
"I really enjoy it. It's a great stress reliever."